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Those of you who followed the case might remember the name Matt Cline and his connection to this case. If you don’t you can check out the interview on getbig.com that talks about it. The interview was conducted shortly after the Titus and Ryan case hit the National news over 4 years ago.

Boston.com has Matt’s obituary and it states he passed after numerous illnesses.

CLINE, Matthew Age 36 of Stoughton, on January 5, 2010 after a valiant battle with numerous illnesses. Dear son of Barbara and Dr. Ronald Cline of Canton, formerly of Randolph. He was blessed with the love of his life, his soulmate and best friend Pam Karambelas who was always by his side to love and support him. He was the loving brother of Heather Rue of Needham and Joshua Cline and his wife Jessie of Bala Cynwyd, PA. Best uncle of Hannah and Zac. Dear nephew of Helaine and Richard Berry and cousin Emily Berry. Cherished grandson of the late Evelyn and Swede Goldstein of Stoughton and the late Gladys and Dr. Harold Cline of Randolph. Services at Temple Beth Am, 871 North Main St. (Rte 28), Randolph, on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 10:00 am. Following interment at Baker St., West Roxbury. Memorial observance will be held at the home of Barbara and Dr. Ronald Cline until 9:00 pm Thursday, Friday 11:00 am-3:00 pm, Saturday evening and Sunday Thru Wednesday 2-4, 7-9pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to The American Liver Association, c/o Zachary’s Hope, 88 Winchester St., Newton, MA 02461. Matt, rest in peace with Bubbie and Papa. Brezniak-Rodman Chapel www.brezniakrodman.com 617-969-0800

Earlier this month Anthony Gross plead guilty in the Melissa James murder case. Gross plead guilty to accessory to arson and accessory to commit first degree arson. The two are both felony charges. If Gross successfully completes his probation, he will be permitted to withdraw his guilty plea to the two felony offenses, plead guilty to the gross misdemeanor charge of Conspiracy to Commit 3rd Degree Arson and receive credit for time served. If he doesn’t complete the probation the two felony charges will remain.

Craig Titus has appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court in regards to his earlier plea. No word on when this matter will be heard.

A judge denied former professional body-builder Craig Titus’ request for a lower sentence today.

District Judge Jackie Glass shot down Titus’ request in part because he was aware that the judge had the discretion to sentence him to 17 years or more for pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Titus was sentenced to spend 21 years in prison on Aug. 22.

Titus’ attorney, Marc Saggesse, claimed that Glass said Titus would be eligible for parole after serving 17 years for pleading guilty to killing his personal assistant Melissa James in 2005.

Today, Glass said she had the sole discretion to sentence Titus and no one could guarantee that Titus would get 17 years.

Titus and his wife, fitness guru Kelly Ryan, were accused of killing James during a drug-fueled fight.

Those were the words Judge Jackie Glass used to describe Craig Titus during his sentencing. If you missed the CBS’ 48Hour special you can watch it online in the embedded video below. The show did a good job of showing a some of the details around this case and a variety of interviews. We would have liked to seen the mention of the Murder for Hire plot and heard from Kelly in the piece. The show could have easily gone two hours with all the content they had to work with surrounding this case. At the end of the story a line appears that states, “Kelly Ryan says her marriage to Craig Titus is over.” That’s an interesting twist to end the show.

TWO VEGAS HARD BODIES’ HARD PARTYING WAYS END IN AN UNTHINKABLE MURDER AND THE DOWNFALL OF A FITNESS POWERHOUSE

Craig Titus and his wife Kelly Ryan were two of the biggest stars of the body building world. The duo – he, a Mr. Olympia competitor and she, a fitness champion – won numerous competitions and graced magazine covers. Titus even trained Motley Crue lead singer, Vince Neil, who admits to 48 HOURS MYSTERY that Titus used steroids and injected him with them. And steroids were not Titus’ only drug of choice. These Las Vegas hard bodies were also hard partiers, known for using illegal drugs and pain killers.

But all that changed on Dec. 14, 2005, when the charred corpse of a young woman was discovered in Ryan’s burned-out car on a Las Vegas desert road. The unrecognizable body was initially thought to be Ryan, but authorities were stunned when they arrived to the couple’s house only to be greeted by her at the door. The body was that of their live-in assistant Melissa James. And soon police pieced together the web of fame, sex, drugs and jealousy that ended in this brutal murder, a gruesome cover up and the downfall of two fitness powerhouses.

Now, in a 48 HOURS MYSTERY exclusive, family, friends, detectives and witnesses each shed light on this shocking story. And, for the first time, shamed body builder Craig Titus tells his side of what happened the night James died, insisting to 48 HOURS MYSTERY that is wasn’t murder. “She OD’d. She’d been shooting drugs for days…I never intended to kill Melissa James, murder Melissa James.”

We’ve confirmed that CBS will devote an upcoming episode of 48Hours to Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan. The show will focus on the crime surrounding them murder of Melissa James. The show will air on November 8, 2008. Stay Tuned for more information about the show.

I have never been a fan of O.J. Simpson, but after reading about the body builder who killed and burned his personal assistant (”Shorter prison sentence sought,” Tuesday Review-Journal), I find myself a little concerned about our legal system.

Let’s compare these two crimes. Craig Titus was sentenced to at least 21 years in prison for murder, but he wants that reduced to 17. His wife, Kelly Ryan, got at least six years for arson and battery with a deadly weapon in that case. But Simpson might get life in prison for armed robbery. Oh yeah, the same judge, Jackie Glass, presided over both cases.

Our system is a joke, and so are the district attorney and the judge. This is like the referee who made a bad call in the first quarter of the football game and makes up for it by making another bad call for the other team in the fourth quarter.

Looks like Craig will have to wait a bit longer to find out his fate in this matter. The following is from the Associated Press:

LAS VEGAS—Former bodybuilding champion Craig Titus wants a Nevada judge to cut four years from his prison sentence or let him go to trial in the slaying of his personal assistant in December 2005.

Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass on Tuesday postponed a hearing on the matter until Nov. 18 because authorities didn’t transport Titus from prison to court.

Titus, 43, claims in court documents that he was promised a 17-to-55-year sentence for pleading guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree arson in the slaying of Melissa James.

Glass imposed a 21-to-55-year sentence Aug. 22, prompting protests from Titus’ lawyer, Marc Saggese, that he was “blindsided.” The stiffer sentence pushed back Titus’ parole eligibility by four years.

Titus’ wife, Kelly Ryan, was sentenced to an agreed-upon six to 26 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to charges of arson and battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm.

Judges are not bound at sentencing by plea agreements. But Saggese said in court documents that Glass made a 17-year assurance “a matter of fact,” to break a stalemate in pretrial negotiations between him and county prosecutors.

Saggese said Titus relied on the 17 year sentence when he took the plea deal and avoided trial.

Prosecutors alleged James, 28, was beaten, drugged, shocked with a Taser, choked and bound with duct tape before her charred body was found in the back of Ryan’s burned-out Jaguar sedan in the desert outside Las Vegas in December 2005.

Titus said at his sentencing hearing that he accidentally killed James during a drug-fueled fight.

Titus is a 1996 bodybuilding champion and Mr. Olympia competitor. Ryan is a past Fitness America and Fitness International winner.

Former champion bodybuilder and convicted killer Craig Titus is seeking to knock off about four years from his prison sentence.

If he can’t get that, he’s asking the court to throw out his guilty plea and allow him to go to trial.

His attorney, Marc Saggese, claims District Judge Jackie Glass said that Titus would be eligible for parole after serving 17 years in prison for killing his personal assistant, Melissa James.

Instead, Glass sentenced Titus to 21 years in prison during a sentencing hearing on Aug. 22.

“In defendant Titus’ mind, the fact that he would receive seventeen years was written in stone,” Saggese wrote in a court document. “Judge Glass had made that assurance to Counsel as a matter of fact.”

Saggese is scheduled to argue the matter before Glass on Tuesday.

In court papers, Saggese said he was negotiating with county prosecutors Robert Daskas and Josh Tomsheck outside Glass’ courtroom on May 30, the last business day before the June 2 trial was set to start.

The parties couldn’t agree on what sentence Titus would receive if he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree arson.

Saggese was asking for a minimum of 15 years while prosecutors wanted 17, according to a court document.

About 4:30 p.m., Judge Glass told Saggese and the prosecutors that time was running out, the document states. The District Court’s Jury Services needed to be notified by 4:45 p.m. that day whether the trial was going forward.

When Glass learned the sticking point in the negotiation was whether Titus would get 15 years or 17 years, she told them, “He’s getting seventeen,” the document states.

Saggese stated that Glass repeated this twice. He said he relied on her statement when he brought the agreement to Titus. Titus, he stated, wouldn’t have entered into a guilty plea if he wasn’t promised 17 years.

Judges can give whatever sentence they deem appropriate and are not bound by plea agreements.

Prosecutors declined to comment and judges do not discuss cases publicly that are before them. Saggese couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

Saggese raised this issue when Glass sentenced Titus and his co-defendant, Kelly Ryan, on Aug. 22. After Glass sentenced Titus to 21 years to 55 years, Saggese said in court that he believed she would sentence Titus to 17 years to 55 years.

Glass at the time told him she didn’t agree with Saggese’s recollection of the agreement.

Titus and Ryan, his wife, were accused of beating, shocking with a Taser and killing 28-year-old James. James’ torched body, wrapped in duct tape, was found in a burned-out Jaguar in the desert in 2005. Titus said at his August sentencing hearing that he accidentally killed James during a drug-fueled fight.

Ryan in May pleaded guilty to arson and battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm. Glass sentenced her to six years to 26 years behind bars.

The couple, both body-builders, were famous among fitness enthusiasts. Titus is a former Mr. Olympia competitor while Ryan is a Ms. Olympia runner-up.

On September 30, 2008 the Civil Trial against Craig Titus, Kelly Ryan and Anthony Gross was dismissed with prejudice. Maura James, Dennis James and the Estate of Melissa James were listed as the plantiffs in the case.

Below are the notes from the sentencing last week. Will Titus revoke his guilty plea and head to trial? How will this play into the charges that Kelly plead guilty? Just when you thought it was all over…

SENTENCING (TITUS & RYAN)

As to DEFT. TITUS: Court noted on 5/30/08 and after many hours of negotiations in the courtroom with everyone present, the Court accepted defendant’s plea. However, it has concerns whether the plea was freely and voluntarily given because, on the following Monday after the plea, defendant Titus gave an interview to two news stations in which Titus said the Second Degree Murder didn’t happen and that the crimes alleged did not occur. Mr. Saggese stated defendant Titus’s concern is with the language contained in the original charges but Titus accepts the language in the Second Degree Murder. Following a thorough canvass on all three charges, defendant Titus acknowledged he freely and voluntary pled guilty to the Second Degree Murder, First Degree Kidnapping and First Degree Arson. Colloquy. Mr. Daskas stated he is satisfied. DEFENDANT TITUS ADJUDGED GUILTY of COUNT 1 - SECOND DEGREE MURDER (F), COUNT 2 - FIRST DEGREE KIDNAPPING (F) and COUNT 3 - FIRST DEGREE ARSON (F).

COUNT 1 - to a MINIMUM term of TEN (10) YEARS and a MAXIMUM term of TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS in the NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS;

COUNT 2 - to a MINIMUM term of FIVE (5) YEARS and a MAXIMUM term of FIFTEEN (15) YEARS in the NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONSECUTIVE to COUNT 1; and

COUNT 3 - to a MINIMUM term of SEVENTY-TWO (72) MONTHS and a MAXIMUM term of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) MONTHS in the NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONSECUTIVE to COUNT 2 with NINE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN (937) DAYS credit for time served.

Mr. Saggese objected to the sentence on Count 3 arguing that during the negotiation process, the Court told him it would impose a minimum of 17. Response by Mr. Daskas. Following a conference in Chambers, Court NOTED there is a discrepancy in everyone’s recollection of the discussions reference Count 3, it intends to look at the transcripts of this proceeding as well as of the plea; however, ORDERED, SENTENCE STANDS and Mr. Saggese is encouraged to speak with his client regarding the consequences of withdrawing his plea and facing the original charges.

COUNT 1 - to a MINIMUM term of THIRTY-SIX (36) MONTHS and a MAXIMUM term of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX (156) MONTHS in the NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; and

COUNT 2 - to a MINIMUM term of THIRTY-SIX (36) MONTHS and a MAXIMUM term of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX (156) MONTHS in the NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONSECUTIVE to COUNT 1 with NINE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE (939) DAYS credit for time served.

Have we heard the end of this story? Apparently not just yet. The following story mentions that there could be an appeal. There is some video footage on the web site as well. Kelly looks 20 years older and Craig looks like a ghost of his former bodybuilding physique.

Titus, Ryan Ask For Mercy In CourtTitus’ Attorney Says He Plans To Appeal

LAS VEGAS — Judge Jackie Glass laid down the law on Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan.

The two asked for mercy and forgiveness during sentencing Friday for their roles in the death of assistant Melissa James.

The bodybuilding couple, dressed in blue and shackled, sat in court for sentencing.

“I know I did not kill but aid once Melissa died. I’m truly, truly sorry. I ask forgiveness,” Ryan said.

“There’s nothing I can do to bring her back. I’m so sorry,” Titus said.

The response from James’ family was blank looks and shaking heads.

Glass said she did not believe Titus.

“He’s nothing but a murderer. The tears are crocodile tears,” she said.

She even went as far as to question the validity of Titus’ guilty plea.

“Did you plea freely and voluntarily given, and did you admit to committing second-degree murder on Melissa James?” Glass asked.

“Yes, maam,” Titus said.

James’ family was emotional throughout the sentencing. At one point, it left court to avoid seeing the graphic pictures of James’ charred body.

The 28-year-old was found dead in December 2005 — badly burned in a Jaguar parked near Red Rock Canyon. The deputy district attorney said she was beaten, drugged and killed by Titus and Ryan, but Titus said he was defending his wife.

“I had no idea I was going to react like that, but I did. I’m ashamed and sickened by my actions after Melissa passed away,” Titus said.

Glass sentenced Titus to 21 to 55 years in prison. His attorney said he was shocked, because he said he was promised 17 to 55 years.

The hearing stopped, but no amount of arguing would save his client.

Still emotional, Ryan received her sentence of six to 26 years in prison.

Titus’ attorney said the judge’s ruling opens the door for his client to take back his guilty plea and allow the case to go to trial.

EIGHT TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON: Titus fanatic sentenced in murder plot
Brady sought killer to target witnesses against coupleBy DAVID KIHARA, REVIEW-JOURNAL

The man who hatched a murder-for-hire plot tied to bodybuilders Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan was sentenced Tuesday to eight to 25 years in prison by District Judge Douglas Herndon.

Ronald Nelson Brady Jr., 36, was convicted in February of three counts of solicitation to commit murder. Authorities said Brady tried to hire a hit man to kill key witnesses against Titus and Ryan in a murder case.

In May, Titus and Ryan pleaded guilty to various charges in connection with the slaying of their personal assistant Melissa James, whose charred body was found in a torched Jaguar in the desert in 2005.

Brady, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, told Herndon on Tuesday that he never tried to hire anyone to kill witnesses in Titus and Ryan’s case.

“I can look you in the eye and tell you this was never a murder-for-hire plot,” Brady said. “I’d rather be in the position I’m in now, and even do life in prison, than be involved in bringing harm (to), much less killing, anyone.”

But Herndon said there was overwhelming evidence showing that Brady wanted three witnesses in Titus’ case dead. Although Brady’s attorney asked for a shorter prison term, Herndon said that Brady’s prior criminal record, along with the fact that he wanted to kill witnesses in a murder case, meant Brady deserved a stiff prison sentence.

Giving him leniency would be a “slap in the face to people who have been willing to come and testify in a murder case,” Herndon said.

Brady met Titus while they were incarcerated at the county jail. Authorities described Brady as an awestruck fan who worshiped the former professional bodybuilder. During Brady’s trial, an ex-girlfriend said Brady’s obsession with Titus was “bizarre.”

Defense attorney Michael Schwarz said Brady was merely a pawn used by authorities to build a stronger case against Titus. “All they wanted was something on Craig Titus,” Schwarz said.

Titus, 43, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and arson for the killing of James, 28. Ryan, 36, pleaded guilty to arson and battery with a deadly weapon with substantial bodily harm. Both are scheduled to be sentenced Friday.

Authorities never charged Titus in the murder-for-hire plot. Prosecutor Josh Tomsheck said Titus wasn’t charged because there wasn’t evidence that he was involved.

During Brady’s trial, informant Deem Cassim testified that Brady approached him inside the Clark County Detention Center about carrying out the hits. Cassim said that he had multiple conversations with Brady about the plot and eventually arranged for Brady to meet with an undercover cop posing as Cassim’s girlfriend. The undercover cop was supposed to accept payment for the hit.

Cassim was jailed for the 2004 robbery of World Series of Poker champion Greg “Fossilman” Raymer in Las Vegas. Cassim was sentenced to 31/2 years to 12 years behind bars but was given probation after helping authorities in Brady’s case.

Brady’s father, Ronald Nelson Brady Sr., said Tuesday that his son will appeal the case to the Nevada Supreme Court. He said Brady never wanted to kill the witnesses but did try to discredit them.

He said he wasn’t surprised with the sentence because his son was fighting against an allegedly rigged system. “I am extremely proud of my son,” he said. “This man did not compromise the truth.”

A courtroom recording system that allowed a juror to hear whispered conversations between a defendant and his attorney during a murder-for-hire trial might lead to a mistrial in the case.

Defense attorney Michael Schwarz said the juror overheard private conversations between him and his client, Nelson Ronald Brady Jr. during a weeklong trial last winter.

The juror, Paul Swain, was able to hear the conversations because he was wearing court-supplied headphones that picked up conversations typical jurors wouldn’t have heard.

That amounted to electronic eavesdropping, Schwarz said.

He asked District Judge Douglas Herndon on Tuesday to declare a mistrial.

“The juror committed misconduct during the trial,” Schwarz said.

Herndon said he wanted more information about the alleged eavesdropping, such as what exactly the juror heard and if it influenced the juror’s verdict. A hearing on the matter will be held July 1.

A jury in February convicted Brady of three counts of solicitation to commit murder. Authorities accused Brady, 36, of trying to hire a hitman to kill three witnesses in the Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan murder case.

Former bodybuilding champions Titus and Ryan were accused of killing their 28-year-old personal assistant, Melissa James, in December 2005. James’ charred body was found in a torched Jaguar in the desert near Blue Diamond Road.

On May 30, Titus pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and arson. Ryan pleaded guilty to arson and battery with a deadly weapon with substantial bodily harm. They are scheduled to be sentenced July 18.

Swain served on Brady’s jury from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4. He said in an affidavit that he “could hear many conversations that were being held at the defense table, between Mr. Schwarz and the defendant, Ronald Brady Jr.”

Brady uses “Ronald” as a first name but is listed as Nelson Brady in official court documents.

Josh Tomsheck, the county prosecutor in the case, said Schwarz and Brady could have used a pen and paper to communicate sensitive information during the trial.

Tomsheck said Schwarz also could have manually turned off the microphone placed on his courtroom table if he didn’t want a conversation overheard.

Tomsheck also said he overheard conversations between Schwarz and Brady during the trial because they were speaking loudly.

Schwarz said he didn’t know the microphone system had a “mute” function. He also said he’s not required to write messages down when communicating with clients during a trial.

According to District Court Administrator Chuck Short, no one has ever complained that the recording system used at the courthouse picks up snippets of conversations between defendants and their attorneys.

He said courthouse technicians will try to recreate the conditions in Herndon’s courtroom to see if there was a problem with the recording system.

Officials also are going to track down the headphones used by Swain to see whether they malfunctioned.

“It’s totally inconsistent with the way the system is designed to work,” Short said.

The recording system, known as JAVS, is widely used in courthouses across the country. Clark County District Court has used JAVS since 1993 and has updated it since then.

Under the system, microphones are placed in front of the judge, prosecutor and defense attorney and at the witness stand. The voice-activated system records whoever is speaking and stops only after the speaker pauses for half a second, Short said.

The microphones are sensitive and court officials are told to turn the system off when a court session is over so no private conversations are recorded.

“Like any technology, it’s only as good and effective as the individual operating it,” Short said.

Accomplice prosecuted in Titus murder case
36-year-old Nelson Ronald Brady, Jr. was found guilty of three counts of solicitation to commit murder for attempting to hire a hit man to kill three key witnesses in the Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan murder case.

Titus and Ryan are charged with killing Melissa James, their personal assistant in December 2005. Megan Pierson Foley and Jeremy Foley testified that Titus and Ryan discussed details of the murder with them, and Anthony Gross allegedly helped dispose of James’ body.

Brady reportedly met Titus while serving time in jail for another crime and approached inmate Deem Cassim about planning the hit on the witnesses. Cassim informed police about Brady’s plans and helped authorities to build a case against him.

Evidence against Brady included recorded jailhouse interviews and video footage of Brady discussing the hit with an undercover police detective.

Brady denied the allegations, stating that he only intended to discredit the reliability of the witnesses by implicating them in a drug sting and either pay them off or threaten them into not testifying.

After being arrested, police say Brady confessed to orchestrating the killings during a recorded interview, but Brady maintains he only told police about the hit to end the interview.

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This site's purpose is to deliver news related to the murder of Melissa James. We do not claim any guilt or innocence of Craig Titus, Kelly Ryan or Anthony Gross. We encourage you to post your comments or email us at postmaster@titusandryan.com.